(816) Melusina Schulembergh, Countess of Walsingham, niece of the Duchess of Kendal, and her heiress.

(817) Hough Was a man of piety, ability, and integrity, and had distinguished himself early in his life by his resistance to the arbitrary proceedings of James II. against Magdalen College, Oxford, of which he was the president.  Pope, with much justice, speaks of “Hough’s unsullied mitre."-D. [He was nominated Bishop of Oxford in 1690; and translated to Worcester in 1717.]

323 Letter 107 To Sir Horace Mann.  May 19, 1743.

I am just come tired from a family dinner at the Master of the Rolls;(818) but I have received two letters from you since my last, and will write to you, though my head aches with maiden sisters’ healths, forms, and Devonshire and Norfolk.  With yours I received one from Mr. Chute, for which I thank him a thousand times, and will answer as soon as I get to Houghton.  Monday is fixed peremptorily, though we have had no rain this month; but we travel by the day of the week, not by the day of the sky.

We are in more confusion than we care to own.  There lately came up a highland regiment from Scotland, to be sent abroad.  One heard of nothing but their good discipline and quiet disposition.  When the day came for their going to the water side, an hundred and nine of them mutinied, and marched away in a body.  They did not care to go where it would not be equivocal for what King they fought.  Three companies of dragoons are sent after them.  If you happen to hear of any rising don’t be surprised-I shall not, I assure you.  Sir Robert Monroe, their lieutenant-colonel, before their leaving Scotland, asked some of the ministry, " “But suppose there should be any rebellion in Scotland, what should we do for these eight hundred men?” It was answered, “Why, there would be eight hundred fewer rebels there.”

“Utor permisso, caudeque pilos ut equinae
Paulatim cello; demo unum, demo etiam unum,
Dum-”

My dear child, I am surprised to hear you enter so seriously into earnest ideas of my lord’s passing into Italy!  Could you think (however he, you, or I might wish it) that there could be any probability of it?  Can you think his age could endure it, or him so indifferent, so totally disministered, as to leave all thoughts of what he has been, and ramble like a boy, after pictures and statues?  Don’t expect it.

We had heard of the Duke of Modena’s command before I had your letter.  I am glad, for the sake of the duchess, as she is to return to France.  I never saw any body wish anything more! and indeed, how can one figure any particle of pleasure happening to the daughter of the Regent,(819) and a favourite daughter too, full of wit and joy, buried in a dirty, dull Italian duchy, with an ugly, formal object for a husband, and two uncouth sister-princesses for eternal companions?  I am so near the eve of going into Norfolk, that I imagine myself something in her situation,